3150 miles across the USA - April Progress Update

The 3150 mile coast to coast run across the USA from Coney Island, New York to Huntington Beach California is scheduled to take place starting on May 1st 2025 and finish 100 days later on August 8th 2025. Planning and preparation for the run is gaining more and more momentum as the weeks go by. Other than work, watching football and taking the dog for a walk, my days are stuffed to the brim with all things associated with the run. 

With the planning of this campaign, there is a familiar sense of anticipation and the organisation that accompanies it. I suppose that's only natural given that USA 2025 is the sixth major initiative I have undertaken. Despite the uniqueness of each of my running projects, I have a comforting familiarity when navigating the logistics, assembling the support team, planning the route, searching for sponsors and so on. In turn, this familiarity breeds confidence and gives me the reassurance that I'm doing things bigger and better than ever before. 

The run across the USA is hugely ambitious in itself. My plans to engage people and take them virtually "on the journey" must match that effort if I'm to maximise this opportunity for St. Benedict's Hospice. 

There is so much progress to report and it's hard to do it justice in a blog post on this site. That said, the following is a short summary of where I'm currently at with seven of the most important aspects. 

FUNDRAISING

At the time of writing, despite the run being quite some time away, £6125 has been donated direct to St. Benedict's Hospice via Justgiving. There is also a further £3000 in the pipeline for the Hospice. 

I have set a target of £60,000 for this run. With 388 days to go and 15% of that achieved already, it's safe to say that this is an encouraging start from a fundraising point of view. A huge thank you to everyone who has already made a donation via Justgiving. 

COMMERCIAL BACKING

I was so grateful that long term supporter Chapman Ventilation offered to become my main sponsor. You can trace their kind support back to 2011. Without their help, the current overall charity total of £351,894.67 would not have been achievable.

Another long term sponsor, D-Line, were also kind enough to continue their backing. Again, without their help, the charity fund would not be what it currently is.

The search is now on for the remaining kit sponsors to fill the slots on my USA 2025 running kit. The full sponsorship prospectus is available here.

SUPPORT TEAM

The task of recruiting the support team has gone very well indeed. Of the 100 days that require cover, 65 days have at least one person on the team with 45 of those days having the desired two people on the team. For many reasons, it's important that there are at least two people on the team at any one time. 

To accommodate the team and I for 100 days, a modestly sized motorhome has been acquired on a rental basis. Chapman Ventilation were instrumental in making this possible.

There is the small matter of having a "team within a team" for the 4 day, 153 mile Death Valley section of the run. The rental agreement states that we can't take the motorhome into the national park. Given the scorching temperatures when I'll be running there (July 28th - 31st 2025) it wouldn't be wise to contemplate doing that. Instead, we'll have a more nimble vehicle at our disposal. The motorhome will provide a base camp in Shoshone in the east of the park and subsequently in Olancha in the west. 

There have been some excellent conversations with the Death Valley team around the exact logistics of support. I anticipate that these will continue for the next few weeks before we have a firm plan A, B and C.

Efforts will continue to recruit the final support team members over the coming months.

RUNNING SHOE SPONSORSHIP

 

The biggest kit related expense is for specialist running shoes. With 10 pairs of shoes required for the USA 2025 campaign, I was very grateful to receive the support of Hylo Athletics. They are a brand new British company whose shoes offer a huge amount of support and comfort. With my "battle damaged" feet, that's exactly what is needed. You can read my full depth review on their Impact shoes here.

TIME OFF WORK

I agreed a period of "unpaid special leave" recently with my current employer to enable me to run across the USA. In the past, I've essentially quit my job to do these major runs in the hope that I'd find work when I returned. It gives me a huge peace of mind to have a job to return to.

TRAINING

There has been an increase in training load recently. Whether that's at the gym twice a week with David Fairlamb or running around the local roads. I estimate that I'm probably 15% of where I need to be in order to start the run across the USA.

Getting the balance of training and organisation of the run right has always been a challenge. The USA 2025 campaign promises to be no different. It's safe to say that the next few months are of huge importance. I anticipate this year's summer holiday will be spent running. I've started looking for cheap, uncomfortably warm destinations to accommodate this. 

LEAFLET

Once the all important final sponsors have been found then they can be added to the tri-fold leaflet that I recently completed the design of. This contains all of the relevant information about the run across the USA including my background, reasons for running, how to donate and a detailed map of the route.

This type of leaflet has served me very well in the past. Particularly, when I don't have a huge amount of time to explain to someone what I'm doing in great detail. I'm currently searching for a kind printing company who can produce a few for me. 

SUMMARY

As you can no doubt tell, these is plenty of work going on to make the run across the USA a huge success.I'll talk more about progress in a similar post next month. No doubt, social media, online content, merchandising, the USA 2025 companion guide to name but a few things, will get a mention. Hopefully, finding the remaining commercial sponsors and support team will have made good progress too.

As ever, if you feel that you can help with any aspect then please do get in touch at sponsorship@rungeordierun.com.  

Your kind donations to St. Benedict's Hospice (Charity No. 1019410) can always be made and gratefully received at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025.

Hello Hylo Athletics

The run across the USA is a little over 407 days away from starting. There is so much going on behind the scenes to make the run a huge success for St. Benedict's Hospice. The latest bit of progress to report is concerned with the running shoes I'll be wearing for 3150 miles from Coney Island to Huntington Beach. 

  

I'm no running shoe afficianado so what you will read below is just my lay person's take based on running over 10,000 miles around the world so far (plus all of the training miles on top of that). What I do have is a very good idea of what works best for me when tackling big miles, in extreme hot, cold and wet conditions on a multitude of various challenging surfaces. 

I also must take into account the irreversible damage that my feet took during the run across Australia. The condition of my feet have definitely improved since that 2384 mile epic back in 2013. I've been told, however, that I will never see the return of the lost fatty padding on the sole of both feet. One of the conservative treatment options for "fat pad atrophy" is to wear proper footwear with adequate cushioning and support. I'm sure you can appreciate that I can't just wear any old shoe on a daily basis never mind to run across an entire continent. I have zero regrets about the state of my feet. The generosity that each step has been able to attract for St. Benedict's Hospice and other local charitable causes is worth it tens time over.

Without further ado, I'm very pleased and proud to announce that I'll be running the 3150 miles across the USA in 2025 wearing Hylo Athletics Impact running shoes. After a very successful test run last weekend, I had no hesitation in taking them up on their very kind offer of support. A huge heartfelt thank you goes to them for responding to my story and the plans I have for next year's run with such kindness. 

Hylo Athletics are a relatively young British company and only launched their running shoes earlier this month. If this is their initial version of a running shoe then the future is very bright for them in my opinion. They came recommended by my friends at specialist running shop Northern Runner in Newcastle. I should mention that Charlie, at the shop, has been responsible for recommending some game changing kit over the years. 

I was sent a black and white pair of Impact to try. That is just one of four different colour ways available incidentally. They felt extremely comfortable straight out of the box and the size eleven felt very true to size. As you should know by now, that word "comfort" is always something that I look for in a running shoe. If I'm going to be running for 100 consecutive days then I need them to pass what I like to call my "slipper test". In other words, at the very least, they should feel like a comfortable pair of slippers that you'd put on after a hard day's work. 

The next and most important step was to run a few miles in them. My initial observation was around the support they gave. Again, forgive the layperson's terminology. Every step felt like the impact was being absorbed by the shoes' very generous amount of cushioning. The shoes felt like they were breaking the fall of each step that I took. That sounds ludicrous as I write it but those are really the only words I can use to describe the protection that I felt my feet were being given. I must say that they didn't feel over spongy though. The balance in that cushioning felt just right leaving me with a feel of control as I ran.

With over five million steps to be taken during the run across the USA year, a decent amount of support underfoot is going to be hugely important. I've worn some excellent shoes in the past but these felt different in terms of cushioning and support. When I looked up the amount of cushioning, it was no surprise to find that the Hylo Athletics Impact had considerably more than I'd had before. Over 3 cm to be precise. Oh and only 2g heavier than mat previous shoes.

Hylo Athletic's description of the technology that underpins that comfort and support goes as follows:  "HYPERBOLT™ Hyperintelligent foam Class-leading innovation and performance - gas-injected, super critical foam, bio-based midsole. Reduces density, reduces weight and increases rebound.".

It would be remiss of me not to mention the core value of Hylo Athletics; Sustainability. 

As they say on their website and social media "We are a community of runners. On a mission to protect the thing we love most. And the planet we do it on. And we RUN LIKE THE WORLD DEPENDS ON IT, always.".

There is a clever bit of technology built into the shoe which they call "Hyloop". "NFC-activated technology tracks the footprint of every stitch. Once you hang up your hylos, send them back. We’ll grind them into something new.". This is an attempt to reduce the awful statistic that says 90% of old running shoes end up in landfill.

I was intrigued when I saw the design of the sole of the Hylo Impact. I read on the Northern Runner website that is "inspired by Formula One technology. Its specially designed outsole is made to efficiently displace water and boost traction, offering unwavering stability, even on wet surfaces.".

The Northern Runner review continued "Echoing the qualities of the acclaimed Hoka Bondi, the Hylo Impact differentiates itself with exceptional responsiveness and even cushioning. It provides the necessary comfort and support for everyday running, making it an ideal pick for both leisurely runners and competitive athletes. 

The defining characteristic of the Hylo Impact is its dedication to sustainability. Utilizing biobased materials such as castor bean and Tencel™ Lyocell, this shoe presents a green alternative without sacrificing on performance. 

The Hylo Impact encourages recycling via Hyloop by a simple scan of the tongue, reinforcing its commitment to the circular economy. With a carbon footprint substantially below that of traditional running shoes, the Hylo Impact embodies forward-thinking environmental design. It features a 33mm heel stack, 25mm forefoot, and an 8mm drop for a stride that is both comfortable and effective. Its DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating further ensures your feet stay dry, enhancing the shoe's adaptability to various conditions. At a mere 280g, the Hylo Impact combines lightness with durability, ready to take on the daily demands of training while promoting a reduced environmental footprint. 

Choose the Hylo Impact running shoe for a perfect mix of advanced technology, peak performance, and eco-consciousness, and contribute to a greener planet with every step."

Once again, a huge thank you goes to Hylo Athletics for their amazing support with the supply of such a brilliantly innovative product. 

Whether it's the Appalachians, the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains or Death Valley and the Mojave Desert, my Hylos and me are going to be together on a quite remarkable adventure next year. They'll then get returned, recycled and made into shoes for somebody else's adventure. There's a very poetic quality to that.

Run Geordie Run needs you (for the run across the USA)

The 3100 mile run across the USA between May 1st and August 8th 2025 will require a support team of volunteers to help make it a success. Duties will range from driving a motorhome, cooking, cleaning, shopping for supplies and ensuring that the runner gets his daily miles run! 

Your experience on the team will be against a backdrop of some of the most beautifully challenging and fascinating landscape from New York to California and the other 12 states in between. Not only is this a chance of a lifetime but it's a chance to play a key part in the success of a run that aims to raise tens of thousands of pounds for St. Benedict's Hospice (Charity No. 1019410).

If you are fit and healthy, hold a driving license, have a positive attitude, have good problem solving skills and can commit at least 14 days to the tour then this could be for you. If you're interested in applying then please complete the form below. Even if you're not 100% sure about joining the team at this stage please apply anyway and we can have an informal discussion where there will be an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. Like myself, support team members are unpaid volunteers. The cost of travel to the USA to join up with the team is at the volunteer's own expense. The motorhome is already paid for and there is no cost to support team for that.

USA 2025 - Route planning finished

I've just finished session number five of the week and it’s only Tuesday. At 0645 this morning, a David Fairlamb Fitness Beach Bootcamp at Longsands saw a strong group put though our paces by Mark Fleming. Regular followers will know that Mark was an important member of the USA 2011 support team. 

Back to yesterday and I managed two double sessions. The first lot was back to back VersaClimber classes at 0630 at David Fairlamb Fitness. On a bank holiday too! At 1630, there were two back to back circuit classes with David. I’ve got to say that I hadn’t felt so strong coming out of that afternoon session for a very long time. It just goes to show what it possible with what is now two weeks of eating very healthy food. 

I’ve simply got to continue to eat in the way I have been, given how good I’m currently feeling. It feels like a fog has lifted. Oh, and there is the small matter that I’ve dropped 10 pounds of fat in that two weeks. That news from the weigh in yesterday with David was pleasantly surprising. I’m looking forward to the coming weeks and months as I build the workload up even further. As long as I continue to eat sensibly then I should be in great shape by the end of spring 2024. The summer of 2024 is a hugely important period in my preparation when I’ll start running the big miles. 

To say that I feel determined is a huge understatement. There’s nothing like plotting the USA route in detail (which I finished yesterday) to focus the mind! The feeling that I had at the end of the route planning was “there’s no way I can do that!”. I haven’t helped matters by watching a lot of YouTube coverage of people running through Death Valley. Death Valley, of course, is only 153 miles of the 3141 mile route from Coney Island, New York to Huntington Beach, California. It’s a tough section that could be an event in its own right. I'll speak more about the route in more detail in the coming weeks so please watch this space. 

There is a long way to go to convincing myself that running that considerable distance, over that unforgiving terrain in those harsh temperatures is actually possible. While running an average of 31.41 miles over 100 days is close to what I did in 2011, this route seems far more difficult however. 

I'm not surprised that with all of the route planning, I now possess a very healthy amount of fear and trepidation. Every action that I take over the next 611 days until the run starts on May 1st 2025 is going to contribute massively to the eventual outcome. What a journey it promises to be!

USA 2025 - Detailed route planning going well

I established a 3100 mile high level route from Coney Island to Huntington Beach a few months ago. So far, I have chopped up the first 1860 miles into chunks spanning 59 days. That route to Walsenburg crosses 10 states, namely New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. There's 47,000ft of climbing to be done so far and I see Walsenburg as the final stop before I run across the San Juan mountains (part of the Rocky mountain range).

It's been a reasonably straightforward route so far. The only real difficulty has been plotting a route through the maze of roads west of St Louis in Missouri. It's not just a case of following the optimum route. I have to factor in whether the terrain is suitable for a motorhome. In many cases, that would not have been the case if I'd chosen the quickest route through this part of Missouri. Being in resonably close proximity to the support team in the motorhome is very important for our safety. Sections of the route where motorhome access isn't possible have been kept to a bare minimum. For example, I'll be spending a bit of time on parts of the Katy Trail in Missouri. This is a 240 mile route which will give me an opportunity to get away from the traffic. The longest unsupported section I'll be running there is 18 miles.

I think it will take this weekend to finish the remaining 1140 or so miles through the San Juan/Rocky mountains, Monument Valley, Death Valley then on to the finish line at Huntington Beach. In terms of states that's Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. That's 66,000ft of climbing over the remaining 31 days.

The route through Death Valley will be quite straightforward. However, the plan and schedule in place to support it will take quite a few months to establish. I'll almost be treating this section as an event in its own right. I'll be in peak physical condition when I enter the park. I must have a plan in place that also takes into account the safety of the support team.   

Watch this space next week for details of the final route across the USA.

Top of the league (for now)

It’s almost as pointless as the first league table of the season (which Newcastle are top of incidentally) but I’m very pleased with the 4.5 pounds of weight lost this week. 

I’ve been at David Fairlamb Fitness at 0600 every morning so far as well as evening sessions. I won’t lie. It’s been tough. I’ve been under instructions from Dave to lessen the usual intensity levels. That has seen me able to train at the upper end of my fat burning zone. I’ve also noticed that I’m making a lot less noise in the gym. It’s still very tough though. 

After an 0600 session with Mark Fleming yesterday morning, I had a Versaclimber UK class with Dave at 1730. The outdoor bootcamp with Craig that followed immediately was just a case of getting through as best I could. If it was a boxing match then the referee would have stopped the fight. I’m pleased that I have a morning off today. 

I’ll have a double session with Dave at 1730 tonight though. It’s a good job that I’ve always enjoyed my sessions in the gym as they are coming thick and fast at the moment. In my mind, that hard work will probably account for 20% of my success. The other 80% is all down to food. I’m getting really good advice from Dave on that with fish, lean meat, certain vegetables and salad items the order of the day. I’m only 4 days in to eating like this but I can already feel a huge difference. One I expected, as I’ve eaten like this before. It’s like a fog has lifted. I don’t feel bloated at all, feel far less lethargic and have more energy going in to sessions. 

I should give a special mention to my sponsor Active Edge who for the 12th year running are supplying the miracle juice that is Cherry Active. I dilute a 30ml sachet in water after every gym session. I shouldn’t be surprised by now but to have zero aches and pains after such a busy workload is quite incredible. I make no apology for sounding like an evangelical salesman (I’m not on commission by the way). It’s such an amazing product. Long time followers will recall that I first used it during the run across the USA in 2011. 

So there’s some positive thoughts for this Thursday morning. Like that early league table, you’re only as good as your next result so I’ll be giving my best efforts in the gym and also from a nutrition point of view. I’m not thinking about the target weight and body fat that I want by the end of next spring. My sights are set firmly on the next meal and the next gym session. If I keep this up then targets and goals will take care of themselves.

David Fairlamb Fitness

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the support of David Fairlamb Fitness for the last 15 years. We’ve been through an awful lot together. I doubt I would have finished the run across the USA in 2011 on time if it wasn’t for his two stints on the support team (along with Mark and Steve aka The Big Guns). I’ll be working with Dave for the run across the USA in 2025. The first official session for this campaign is tomorrow at 0630 where we’ll take some stats (weight, body fat etc) before I get started. 

The high level plan is to reach the “fighting weight” and desired body composition before summer 2024. This will give me a full 12 months of being able to run the high back to back miles in training in preparation for the run starting in May 2025. 

For a normal man in the street, I’ve always considered my training to be of a really high standard. The frequency, intensity and load that I’ve managed around work, family life, football and planning the epic runs has served me well so far. 

For the run in 2025, with the support of Dave, I feel the training will take care of itself. Not without considerable discipline, effort and sacrifice mind. What won’t take care of itself, however, is the all important food aspect of my preparation. In all these years, I have never once got that right. The image below is one I’ve looked at a lot over the years. The left side is me at 18.5 stone and 33% body fat on day three of the run across the USA in 2011. That picture was taken in the Outpost Cafe where I’ll be visiting (with a lot of luck) on day 97 in 2025. The right side is me at 88kg and 5.8% body fat after the run finished. 

As well as the usual superb guidance in training, I’ll be working much closer with Dave on nutrition. That’s all well and good, but it’s down to me to do something that I’ve never managed before. To eat the right food, in the right quantities with a large serving of discipline. What can possibly go wrong! 

A huge thank you to Dave (and trainer Mark Fleming too) for the support that is so important in the build up to running 3100 miles from New York to Death Valley to Huntington Beach, California in 100 days.